After beating Johnston on Thursday the Chargers made it two straight wins with a 38-18 win against Westerly at Federico Gym on Saturday morning.

The chargers have spent the first five matches of the season wrestking against the state's best schools in A-1.

Chariho stands at 1-4 in league action and must still face defending state champian Warwick Veterans.

After that the Chargers will wrestle the six C-1 schools and close the season with the teams in B-1.

Chariho is still tied for first place in B-1 with Ponaganset. 

"We can be right in the thick of things if the kids stay focused" Chariho coach Scott Merritt said.  "After Warwick we have a big tri-match with Central Falls and Woonsocket.

"If we can get to the Bs tied for first or one down, we will be OK"

Chariho dominated Saturday's match against the Bulldogs.  The final score was a bit deceiving.  Chariho had wrestlers qualified at 189 and 215, but elected not to take the additional 12 points they could have earned.

"We already had secured the win and there was no sense in running up the score," Merritt said.

Chariho leads the all-time series between the two schools 5-3 retaining the Chariho-Westerly Challenge Cup for another year.

Chariho got off to a quick start winning at 103 pounds and 112.  The Chargers' Craig Falcone pinned Westerly's Garrett Conroy with 16 seconds remaining in the 103 match.  He was leading 14-2 when the pin occurred.

"I just tried to work on my moves, especially the cradle and get some points for the team," Falcone, a junior, said.

At 112, Chariho's Dan Macelli topped Eric Lyman 13-2.

One of the best matches of the day came at 119.  Westerly's Taylor Wildes beat Chariho's Jeff Murphy 4-2 in overtime.  Wildes got a takedown in the overtime to earn the win.

"He was excellent again today," Westerly coach Dave Murdock said.  "He wrestled great against North Kingstown the other night. He's coming along."

Chariho's Andy Briody beat Westerly's Kurt Munz at 125 7-0.

"That's the third time he's beaten him.  But the last time it was very close. I was concerned about this one," Merritt said.

The Chergers' Dan Fogg got a forfit at 130 and Chariho's Terry Thomas pinned Westerly's Josh Mason in 1:04 at 135.

Westerly's Sal Intrieri beat Chariho's A.J. Normandin 8-5 at 140 in another good match.  The two wrestlers were tied at 5-5 when Intrieri was able to turn Normandin in the final 30 seconds and earn three points for a near fall.

Chariho's Chris Hagen was a winner at 145.

Westerly's Tyler Mason, the defending state champion at 145 had no problems in his 152-pound match.  He pinned Graham MacCoy 1n 1:44.  Mason was leading 7-2 when the pin occurred.

Chariho's Justin Hazard beat Westerly's Kyle Graichen, 9-2 at 160.

Westerly's Adam Hannah got a forfit win at 171.

Chariho's Hunter Harris closed out the match with a pin of Westerly's Eric Bilodeau at 1:18.  Bilodeau had Harris on his back early in the match, but Harris faught back to earn the pin.

"I'm always nervous when it's a rivalry," Merritt said. "If somne of the matches had gone the other way, it could have been close.  You always have to be ready when a rivalry is on the line."

Chariho is now 5-4 overall, while the Bulldogs dropped to 0-4.

Murdock said the Bulldogs have to focus on improving.

"You have to keep their spirts up and make sure they keep learning moves," Murdock said.  "Like at 112 (Eric Lyman).  That's the first time he has not been pinned this season.

"The match went exactly like I thought.  But I'm very happy, because we had kids who could have lost and they came out and won."